Shading control network using a control network

ABSTRACT

A control system is disclosed that includes a room controller transmitting signals to both a shade control network and a light control network, directing that motorized roller shades and dimmable lights be set to desired intensity levels. The control system further includes an intelligent hub that provides a trickle-charge re-charge current via power-over-Ethernet cables to batteries associated with each of the motorized roller shades for re-charging the batteries, thereby eliminating power supplies being installed within walls. The intelligent hub provides for communication with the room controller based on streaming protocol and with the shade control network based on event-based protocol. A computer running user interface software may be connected to the system to facilitate programming.

PRIORITY INFORMATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 121 to U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/306,685, filed 17 Jun.2014, and further claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S.Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/306,656, filed 17 Jun.2014, the entire contents of both of which are expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Related subject matter is disclosed in co-pending U.S. Non-provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 14/306,656, filed 17 Jun. 2014, entitled “ASystem and Method for Providing Shading and Lighting Control Using aControl Network.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

Aspects of the embodiments relate to an integrated home automationsystem that includes centralized control for controlling motorizedshades in a residential home.

Background Art

It is known to control the operation of a motorized shade or drapery bytransmitting command signals to the motorized shade or drapery from acontrol system, thereby, directing the motor to move the shade or drape.Shades move in a vertical direction and wrap around a roller tube whiledrapes move in a horizontal direction. One known example of a controlsystem that operates motorized screens, drapes, and curtains isillustrated in a 1989-1999 catalog published by Crestron Electronics,Inc.

Furthermore, one skilled in the art of network control system designwould recognize that there is no difference between the type of commandsused to control shades, lighting, slide projectors, and other pieces ofinterfacing equipment. Certain of prior art patents, such as U.S. Pat.No. 7,085,627 (“the '627 patent”), assigned to Lutron Electronics Inc.,purport to distinguish between various subsystems that could be used inall overall home automation system, such as a “lighting system,” a“shade network,” and a “security system.” However, these patents aretypically written from the aspect of a company that specializes in oneof the subsystems (i.e. Lutron Electronics, Inc. specializes inlighting) and not from the point of view of a company specializing incontrol systems (i.e. AMX, Control4, Crestron, or Savant).

It would have been apparent to one skilled in the art of computernetwork technology that there are no basic network design features (i.e.physical layer, baud rate or network topology) that would be differentbased on whether a network was used to control residential shades,residential lighting, or other residential systems. So, regardless ofcertain representations made in the '627 patent there simply has notbeen any difference between shade control communication networks andlighting control networks.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional shade system 100 that includesmotorized roller shade (shade) 106 that is used to cover window 108.Shade 106 includes flexible shade fabric 104 that is windingly receivedonto rotatably supported roller tube 102. Shade 106 also includes anelectric motor (not shown) that drivingly engages roller tube 102 inorder to rotate roller tube 102. It is known to control such shade 106from a centralized location as part of an overall home automationsystem.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it would have been clear to a network designer,since at least the late 1980's, that there are several basic networktopologies available for interconnecting various computer-controlleddevices, such as for example, interconnecting the various devices of ahome automation system. Several different network topologies are shownin FIG. 2, and described below.

In bus network topology 202, each node is connected to a single cable203. A signal from a source node travels in both directions to all nodesconnected on the bus cable 203 until it finds the intended recipientnode. In all the network topologies shown in FIG. 2, the central,source, or hub node, is shown as the solid, shaded circle, and theattached nodes (which generally represent computers, or in the case of ahome automation system, microcontrollers), are shown as the empty,un-shaded circles. In bus network topology 202, if the intendedrecipient address, for a particular data packet, does not match anyaddress of a node connected to the bus, then that data packet isignored. Alternatively, if the intended recipient address matches theaddress of a node connected to the bus, then that data packet isaccepted at that node. Since bus topology 202 consists of only one cable203, it is rather inexpensive to implement when compared to othernetwork topologies. However, the low cost of implementing the technologyis offset by the high cost of managing the network. Such cost ispartially related to the cost of adding other nodes (or computers),which includes running the bus (cable 203) to the new node and/or abus-feed to the existing main bus. Additionally, since only one cable isutilized, it can be a single point of failure that takes down the entirenetwork. In terms of home (or commercial) automation systems, additionallimitations can include that only a limited amount of power can betransferred to devices on bus network 202 from the central node. Ifadditional nodes are added that require additional power, a new powersupply could be required, but there is a limit as to how much power canbe transferred over conventional cabling for bus network topology 202.

In local area networks where star network topology (star network) 204 isused, each node is connected to a central hub with a point-to-pointconnection. Star network 204 does not necessarily have to resemble astar to be classified as a star network, but all of the nodes on starnetwork 204 must be connected to the one central hub. All traffic thattraverses star network 204 passes through the central hub, and as such,the central hub acts as a signal repeater. The star topology isconsidered the easiest topology to design and implement. An advantage ofstar network 204 is the simplicity of adding additional nodes. Theprimary disadvantage of star network 204 is that the hub represents asingle point of failure; if it fails, no communications can take place(whereas in bus network 202, a non-source node (the one or more unshadednodes) can take over as the source node). In terms of automationsystems, star network 204 can transfer larger amounts of power, becauseeach interconnecting cable only has to handle the power that its endnode requires (i.e., one cable does not carry all of the current for theentire network), although a new power supply at some point might berequired. However, each time a new node is added, the cable must be“home-runned” back to the central (or source) node, which can be costly.

Another local area network is daisy-chain network topology (daisy-chainnetwork) 206. In daisy-chain network 206, it is fairly easy andstraightforward to add more computers into the network bydaisy-chaining, or connecting each computer in series to the next. If amessage is intended for a computer partway down the line, each systembounces it along in sequence until it reaches the destination. A daisychain network can take two basic forms: linear and ring. In terms ofautomation systems, daisy chain network 206 is also problematic in termsof power because all of the power needs to be transferred through onecable, similarly to bus network 202; thus, there are practicallimitations as to the number of devices that can be attached and/or thetotal power that can be provided. If additional power is required innodes further down the line in the daisy chain, then local transformersor other power supplies could be necessary to provide the additionalpower.

A linear topology in a daisy chain network 206 puts a two-way linkbetween one computer and the next. By connecting the computers at eachend, a ring topology can be formed. An advantage of the ring topology isthat the number of transmitters and receivers can be cut in half, sincea message will eventually loop all of the way around. When a node sendsa message, the message is processed by each computer in the ring. If thering breaks at a particular link then the transmission can be sent viathe reverse path thereby ensuring that all nodes are always connected inthe case of a single failure.

Tree network topology (tree network) 208 is also shown in FIG. 2. Thetopology of tree network 208 is based on a hierarchy of nodes. Thehighest level of any tree network consists of a single, or ‘root’ node210 (i.e., the sold circle of tree network 208). Root node 210 isconnected either to a single (or, more commonly, multiple) node(s) 212in the level below by point-to-point links (note that root node 210 isconnected first to first lower level node 212 a, and then first lowerlevel node 212 a is connected to first lower level node 212 b, and soon). These first lower level nodes 212 are also connected to a single ormultiple second lower level nodes 214 in the next level down. Treenetworks 208 are not constrained to any number of levels, but as treenetworks 208 are a variant of bus network 202 topology, they are proneto crippling network failures should a connection in a higher level ofnodes fail/suffer damage (i.e., if first lower level node 212 a failed,everything would essentially fail as root node 210 is then cut off fromall of the other nodes). Each node in the network has a specific, fixednumber of nodes connected to it at the next lower level in the hierarchy(“lower” referring to levels away from root node 210; the first lowerlevel including first lower level nodes 212, the next lower levelincluding second lower level nodes 214, and so on), this number beingreferred to as the ‘branching factor’ of the tree.

While tree networks 208 are capable in terms of data throughput, interms of power distribution, tree networks 208 suffer from the samelimitations as bus network 202 and daisy chain network 208 in that allof the power must be transferred by the first cable from the centralnode; further, because of the nature of the “tree” like growth, there isno way of knowing in advance how much power each branch might ultimatelyhave to transfer. If additional power is required in nodes further downthe branches of the “tree,” then local transformers or other powersupplies could be necessary to provide the additional power.

The last network topology to be discussed in regard to FIG. 2 is meshnetwork 216, which is a network topology in which each node (called amesh node) relays data for the entire network. All nodes cooperate inthe distribution of data in mesh network 216. Mesh network 216 typicallyhas a self-healing capability that enables data rerouting when one nodebreaks down or a connection goes bad. As a result, mesh network 216 istypically quite reliable, as there is often more than one path between asource and a destination in mesh network 216. Although mostly used inwireless situations (shown as dashed lines), the “mesh network” conceptis also applicable to wired networks (solid lines) and softwareinteraction. Mesh networks 216 are applicable to data only, as powercannot be effectively be transferred wirelessly.

Mesh networks 216 can be designed using a flooding technique or arouting technique. When using a routing technique, the message ispropagated along a path, by hopping from one node to the next node untilthe destination is reached. To ensure all its paths' availability, arouting network must allow for continuous connections andreconfiguration around broken or blocked paths using self-healingalgorithms. A flooding technique is one in which the message istransmitted to all of the nodes of mesh network 216. The attractivenessof the flooding technology lies in its high reliability and simplicity.As those of skill in the art can appreciate, there is no need forsophisticated routing techniques since there is no routing. No routingmeans no network management, no need for self-discovery, no need forself-repair, and, because the message is the payload, no overhead forconveying routing tables or routing information.

A mesh network whose nodes are all connected to each other is a fullyconnected network. A fully connected network can be costly, as either awired connection is required between each node (or computer) or awireless interface needs to be installed. Of course, the wirelessinterface can save wiring costs, but can also prove to be less reliable(and slower) under some conditions, as those of skill in the art canappreciate.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates a conventionalautomated combined shading and lighting control network system (controlsystem) 300 that is suitable for use in, among other places, a hotelsuite, for controlling motorized roller shades, lighting, televisions,among other devices. It is known by those of skill in the art to providea centralized control system that provides both lighting and shadingcontrol functions. Such a centralized system is shown in FIG. 3.

Control system 300 includes room controller 302, set top box 304,television 306, bus 308 (which can be RS-485, or Cresnet®), interfaceunits (IUs) 310, transformers 312, light dimmers 314, keypads 316, andshades 106. Bus 308 is typically capable of carrying 24 VDC. Those ofskill in the art can appreciate that other devices, not shown, can alsobe included in control system 300. For example, room controller 302 canalso be directly connected to, or indirectly connected to (through otherrouters (not shown)), wide area network (WAN) 322, such as the Internet.In addition, IUs 310 can be wall mountable for the case of local andremote control of shades 106, desk mounted, or located elsewhere. Roomcontroller 302 can also be connected to IU 310 for controlling shades106, and can also connected to light dimmers 314 (which are typicallywall-mountable) for controlling the dimmable lighting loads. Roomcontroller 302 and transformers 312 are further provided for controllingmotorized roller shades 106 by controlling the motors therein toposition shades and drapes. An early example of such a centralizedcontrol system is “The Crestron New Generation Total Control System”,circa 1998. In some configurations, IUs 310 also provide signals,typically in digital form (although they can also generate analogsignals) to control a collection of one or more relays that providepower and control signals to the motors in motorized roller shades 106.The relays can be controlled by bus 308 so that power can be forwardedto motorized roller shades 106 from transformers 312, alone with controlsignals that are delivered by bus 308.

Room controller 302 can transmit command signals to light dimmer 314 fordirecting that the dimmable loads be set to particular intensity levelsthat can range from between 0 and 100 percent. Likewise, room controller302 can also transmit command signals directing that the motorizedshades be set to various positions that can range from between fullyclosed and fully open. Control system 300 can further includemicroprocessors at each of motorized roller shades 106 in IUs 310 thatare connected to the network for transmitting control signals and forstorage of a database including network-related information. However, itis also known to those of skill in the art that some control systems 300do not include processors in any of IU's 310 and/or motorized rollershades 106.

Control system 300 is programmable such that preset shade positions forshades 106 can be stored in control system 300 for subsequent selectionby a user by actuation of a preset actuator provided by IU 310. Controlsystem 300 is also programmed to address other devices connected to thenetwork with a unique identifier to provide for network communicationbetween the devices and to provide for centralized control of shades106. The “other devices” can include television 306, set top box 304, aswell as light dimmer 314 and keypad 316 (which can used to enter a codeto unlock a door, or a card swipe, that can read a magnetic strip, alsoto unlock the door). Control system 300 is also programmed to assign theelectronic drive unit (EDU) 326 of each of shades 106 of control system300 to one of the wall-mountable IUs 310 for control of its respectiveEDU 326 from the wall-mountable IU 310. Note also that for each shade106 there is a transformer 312 that provides the necessaryvoltages/power to motorized roller shade 106 via control of itsrespective IU 310. It is to be noted that the EDUs are relatively simpledevices in this example and do no more than receive command signals fromIUs 310, and transfer the data/commands as needed.

It has also been attempted in the prior art for shade 106 to mimic alight dimmer setting wherein, for example, a dimmer setting of 50% wouldbe equivalent to opening a motorized window shade half-way. This leads,however, to obvious drawbacks in that the outdoor ambient light variesaccording many factors including season of the year and cloud cover.

It is known by those of skill in the art that connecting either shadesor lighting controls to a network is not complicated using any one ofseveral network protocols, such as, but not limited to, Crestron's“Cresnet®”, Power over Ethernet, Zigbee, among others. However, it isalso known to those of skill in the art that while any one of severalnetwork topologies can be used, as discussed above, each has problemsassociated with them. Furthermore, it is also known by those of skill inthe art that conveying power to motorized roller shades, as shown anddescribed in reference to FIG. 3, can involve the separate installationof in-the-wall mountable transformers 312 that presents a host ofseparate issues. First, there is the construction costs, and damage doneto walls. Even if transformers 312 are not wall mounted, they still mustbe put somewhere, and they are relatively inefficient, generate heat, aswell as electrical noise.

Thus, there is a need for a hybrid star and linked network with powerstorage capability at each node in order to provide desirablecharacteristics for a home, office, or hotel suite automation systemthat includes control of shades, audio speakers, among other devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that both the general and detailed descriptionsthat follow are explanatory only and are not restrictive of theembodiments.

According to one aspect of the embodiments, a shade control systemincludes a plurality of drive units each having a motor adapted formoving an associated shade member, and a plurality of drive unitcontrollers each capable of generating command signals for directing atleast one of the drive units to move the associated shade member. Theshade control system also includes a communication bus to which each ofthe drive units and drive unit controllers is connected in a commonarrangement such that each one of the drive units and drive unitcontrollers can communicate with every other drive unit and drive unitcontrollers.

According to a further aspect of the embodiments, the shade memberassociated with each drive member is a shade fabric wound onto a rollertube. The drive unit controllers preferably include at least one keypadcontroller having an open limit actuator and a close limit actuator forgenerating command signals for moving the associated shade fabric of atleast one of the drive units to a predetermined open limit position anda predetermined close limit position. The keypad controller preferablyincludes a raise actuator and a lower actuator for generating commandsignals for moving the associated shade fabric of at least one of thedrive units through raise and lower position adjustments.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the embodiments, a method for controllinglights and shades is provided, the method comprising transmittingcontrols signals from a room controller to one or more devices, whereinsaid control signals represent a desired intensity level setting,receiving the transmitted control signals at the one or more devices,transferring power to a first set of said one or more devices via apower-over-Ethernet (PoE) cable, and converting said control signals toeffectuate said desired intensity level setting, and wherein said one ormore devices includes motorized roller shades and dimmable lightingdevices. According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the step ofconverting comprises converting a first set of said control signalsrepresenting an intensity level setting of a shade such that themotorized roller shades changes a shade position of said shade to matchthe desired intensity level setting, and converting a second set of saidcontrol signals representing an intensity level setting of a dimmablelight such that dimmable light controls changes a dimming setting ofsaid dimmable light.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the step of convertingsaid first set of control signals comprises transmitting a sequence ofcontrol signals to the motorized roller shades such that said motorizedshade moves said shade in a series of substantially evenly timed stepsof substantially equal distance to simulate a relatively slowly movingshade compared to a normal rate of driven movement for the motorizedroller shade, and wherein a motor speed for the at least one motorizedshade is variable and wherein the method further comprises transmittinga signal concurrently with the intensity level directing the at leastone motorized shade to move to the associated shade position at adesired speed.

Still further according to the first aspect of the embodiments, the stepof transmitting comprises transmitting said control signals from saidroom controller to an intelligent hub, wherein said control signalsfurther include database information, and forwarding said controlssignals from said intelligent hub to a first of one or more motorizedroller shades via said PoE cable, wherein each of said one or moremotorized roller shades includes a respective electronic data unit foreach of the at least one motorized roller shades, and wherein each ofsaid electronic drive units includes an elongated motor, and a battery,and further wherein said battery is configured to provide operatingpower to said elongated motor. According to the first aspect of theembodiments, said step of transferring power comprises transmitting atrickle-charge re-charging current from said intelligent hub to saidfirst set of said one or more devices over said PoE cable, wherein saidset of said one or more devices includes motorized roller shades, andwherein said PoE cable is connected between said intelligent hub andeach electronic data unit of each at least one or more motorized rollershades in a daisy chain fashion.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, said electronic driveunit further includes control electronics, and wherein said controlelectronics includes an input interface, and an output interface, andwherein said input interface is configured to receive control signals,database information, and trickle-charge re-charging current from eithera preceding electronic drive unit or intelligent hub via said PoE cable,and wherein said output interface is configured to transmit controlsignals, database information, and trickle-charge re-charging current toa subsequent electronic drive unit via said PoE cable.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, said electronic driveunit further comprises a relay switch network configured to causeelectrical power to selectively by-pass said electrical drive unit, andwherein said relay switch network is further configured to selectivelyallow one or more batteries in one or more different respectivemotorized roller shades to draw re-charging power from said battery insaid motorized roller shade associated with said electrical drive unit.

Still further according to the first aspect of the embodiments, themotorized roller shade further comprises a shade, and a hem bar locatedat a bottom of said shade, wherein said hem bar includes one or moresmall batteries electrically connected to each other and said battery ofsaid motorized roller shade, and wherein said small batteries areconfigured to provide a trickle-charge re-charging current to saidbattery of said motorized roller shade.

According to a second aspect of the embodiments, a method is providedfor controlling lights and shades, the method comprising transmittingcontrols signals from a room controller to one or more devices, whereinsaid control signals represent a desired intensity level setting,receiving the transmitted control signals at the one or more devices,transferring power to a first set of said one or more devices from atransformer via a power cable, and converting said control signals toeffectuate said desired intensity level setting, and wherein said one ormore devices includes motorized roller shades and dimmable lightingdevices.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the step ofconverting comprises converting a first set of said control signalsrepresenting an intensity level setting of a shade such that themotorized roller shades changes a shade position of said shade to matchthe desired intensity level setting, and converting a second set of saidcontrol signals representing an intensity level setting of a dimmablelight such that dimmable light controls changes a dimming setting ofsaid dimmable light, wherein the step of converting said first set ofcontrol signals includes transmitting a sequence of control signals tothe motorized roller shades such that said motorized shade moves saidshade in a series of substantially evenly timed steps of substantiallyequal distance to simulate a relatively slowly moving shade compared toa normal rate of driven movement for the motorized roller shade, andfurther wherein a motor speed for the at least one motorized shade isvariable; and wherein the method further comprises transmitting a signalconcurrently with the intensity level directing the at least onemotorized shade to move to the associated shade position at a desiredspeed.

Still further according to the second aspect of the embodiments, thestep of transmitting comprises transmitting said control signals fromsaid room controller to a mesh network gateway, wherein said controlsignals further include database information, and forwarding saidcontrols signals wirelessly from said mesh network gateway to each ofsaid one or more motorized roller shades, wherein each of said one ormore motorized roller shades includes a respective electronic data unitfor each of said at least one motorized roller shades, and wherein eachof said electronic drive units includes an elongated motor, and abattery, and further wherein said battery is configured to provideoperating power to said elongated motor.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the step oftransferring power comprises transmitting a trickle-charge re-chargingcurrent from said transformer to a first one of said motorized rollershades over said power cable, and wherein a PoE cable is connectedbetween each electronic data unit of each at least one or more motorizedroller shades in a daisy chain fashion, and wherein said electronicdrive unit further includes control electronics, and wherein saidcontrol electronics includes an input interface, and an outputinterface, and wherein said input interface is configured to receivecontrol signals, database information, and trickle-charge re-chargingcurrent from a preceding electronic drive unit, if so connected, viasaid PoE cable, and wherein said output interface is configured totransmit control signals, database information, and trickle-chargere-charging current to a subsequent electronic drive unit via said PoEcable.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, said electronic driveunit further comprises a relay switch network configured to causeelectrical power to selectively by-pass said electrical drive unit, andwherein said relay switch network is further configured to selectivelyallow one or more batteries in one or more different respectivemotorized roller shades to draw re-charging power from said battery insaid motorized roller shade associated with said electrical drive unit.According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the motorized rollershade further comprises a shade, and a hem bar located at a bottom ofsaid shade, wherein said hem bar includes one or more small batterieselectrically connected to each other and said battery of said motorizedroller shade, and wherein said small batteries are configured to providea trickle-charge re-charging current to said battery of said motorizedroller shade.

According to a third aspect of the embodiments, a method for controllinglights and motorized roller shades is provided, the method comprisingproviding a programmable room controller adapted to store presetintensity levels in a database of information for devices connected tothe room controller, connecting the room controller to a lightingcontrol network including at least one dimmable light, connecting theroom controller to a shade control network that includes at least onemotorized roller shade, programming the room controller to store presetintensity levels for the dimmable lights of the lighting control networkin the database of information, programming the programmable roomcontroller to store a preset intensity level for the at least onemotorized roller shade of the shade control network in the database ofinformation, transferring power to said shade control network via a PoEcable from an intelligent hub, and transmitting a portion of thedatabase of information that includes the preset intensity level for theat least one motorized roller shade of the shade control network fromthe room controller to the shade control network, wherein the shadecontrol network is configured to convert the preset intensity levelsinto preset shade positions.

According to the third aspect of the embodiment, the method furthercomprises connecting a keypad to the room controller, wherein the keypadis configured to transmit a command signal to the room controllerregarding a selected preset intensity level for the at least onemotorized shade of the shade control network in response to a userinput, transmitting the command signal regarding the selected intensitylevel from the room controller to the shade control network; anddirecting the at least one motorized roller shade to move to the presetshade position associated with the selected intensity level.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, a motor speed of amotor of the at least one motorized roller shade of the shade controlnetwork is variable and the method further comprises programming theroom controller to store a desired motor speed associated with thepreset intensity level for the at least one motorized roller shade ofthe shade control network in the database of information for directingthe motorized roller shade to move to the associated preset shadeposition at the desired motor speed, and transmitting the motor speedwith the associated preset intensity level to the shade control networkin the portion of the database of information that includes the presetintensity level for the at least one motorized roller shade of the shadecontrol network.

According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments, a method forcontrolling at least one motorized roller shade is provided, the methodcomprising providing a shade control network including at least onemotorized roller shade, wherein each motorized roller shade isconfigured to transmit feedback information regarding shade position orother condition associated with a shade to the shade control network,providing a room controller connected to the shade control network forcontrolling the motorized roller shades of the shade control network,wherein the room controller is configured to receive the feedbackinformation from the shade control network regarding the condition orposition of the motorized roller shades, providing an intelligent hubconnected to the room controller and the shade control network, theintelligent hub configured to store feedback information from the shadecontrol network in memory for independent transmission to the roomcontroller, and wherein said intelligent hub is further configured totransfer power to a first one of said motorized roller devices via a PoEcable, and transmitting feedback information from the motorized rollershades of the shade control system to the intelligent hub, and storingthe feedback information for the motorized roller shades in a memory ofthe intelligent hub.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises providing a timing device in the room controller forassociating the shade position for the motorized roller shades to thetime of day, transmitting shade position information from the motorizedroller shades to the intelligent hub, retrieving the time of day fromthe timing device, storing the shade position information for themotorized roller shades and the associated time information in memory atthe intelligent hub, transmitting the shade position information for themotorized roller shades and the associated time information from theintelligent hub to the room controller, creating a time-based macroprogram for directing the motorized roller shades of the shade controlnetwork to move to given positions at certain times of day based on theinformation transmitted to the room controller from the intelligent hub,and executing the time-based macro program.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises providing a link between the room controller and theintelligent hub configured to transmit information in cycled packets ofinformation based on a streaming protocol, and transmitting feedbackinformation regarding the motorized roller shades of the shade controlnetwork from the intelligent hub to the room controller in a sequentialmanner using the streaming protocol such that any packet of informationtransmitted to the room controller that includes feedback informationincludes feedback information associated with only one of the motorizedroller shades.

According to a fifth aspect of the embodiments, a method for controllinga shade control network including at least one motorized roller shade isprovided, the method comprising providing a room controller havingmemory storage capability and an actuator, connecting the roomcontroller to a motorized roller shade that includes a rotatablysupported roller tube and a flexible shade fabric windingly received bythe roller tube, programming the room controller to store in memory afirst preset value associated with a first shade position and a secondpreset value associated with a second shade position, transferring powerto a first one of said motorized roller shades via a PoE cable from anintelligent hub, and moving the motorized roller shade to the firstpreset shade position in response to an actuation of the actuator, andmoving the motorized roller shade to the second preset shade position inresponse to a subsequent actuation of the actuator.

According to the fifth aspect of the embodiments, the motorized rollershade is toggled between the first and second shade positions inresponse to actuation of the actuator, the room controller includes avisual indicator located adjacent the actuator to provide a visualindication of the shade position to which the motorized roller shade istoggled to, and the room controller is programmed to set the first shadeposition by default to either a fully-opened shade position, or afully-closed shade position.

According to a sixth aspect of the embodiments, a method is provided forprogramming a shade control network that includes at least one motorizedroller shade, the shade control system including a communication networkconnected to each motorized roller shade, the method comprisingconnecting a computer having user interface capability to thecommunication network of the shade control network, transmitting atleast a portion of a database of information regarding the shade controlnetwork from the computer to the shade control system, transferringpower to said shade control network from an intelligent hub via a PoEcable, and storing the portion of the database of information receivedby the shade control network in a memory in the shade control network.

According to the sixth aspect of the embodiments, each of the motorizedroller shades of the shade control network has memory storagecapability, and the method further comprises connecting the computer toa room controller and the shade control network, transmittingsubstantially all of the database of information regarding the shadecontrol network from the computer to the room controller, transmittingat least a portion of the database of information from the roomcontroller to each of the motorized roller shades, storing the portionof the database of information in memory at each of the motorized rollershades of the shade control network, transmitting an acknowledgement ofreceipt of the database portion from each of the motorized roller shadesto the room controller, and transmitting a report from the roomcontroller to the computer regarding acknowledgement by the at least onemotorized roller shade.

According to the sixth aspect of the embodiments, the programming methodfurther comprises connecting said intelligent hub to the communicationnetwork of the shade control system to facilitate transfer ofinformation with the shade control network, and connecting said roomcontroller to said intelligent hub, wherein said room controller is partof an integrated control system, and said room controller is configuredto control at least one other control system including a lightingcontrol network in addition to the shade control network. Still furtheraccording to the sixth aspect of the embodiments, the programming methodfurther comprises connecting a plurality of intelligent hubs to aplurality of shade control network, each shade control network includingat least one motorized roller shade, and a communication networkconnected to each of the motorized roller shades, wherein saidcommunication network includes a PoE cable, and an electronic data unit,and connecting the room controller to each of the intelligent hubs.

According to the sixth aspect of the embodiments, the programming methodstill further comprises directing the shade control network to move themotorized roller shades in a sequential manner in response to a seriesof user inputs to provide for unique identification of the motorizedroller shades by the shade control network, directing the shade controlnetwork to move the motorized roller shades of the shade control networkto provide for visual identification of a particular shade among areduced number of shades in a first subset of shades, and furtherreducing the number of shades in subsequent subsets by repeating thestep of directing the shade control network to move the motorized shadeswith respect to subsequent subsets until a subset is formed thatincludes only the particular motorized shade to provide for uniqueidentification of the particular motorized shade by the shade controlnetwork, wherein half of the shades of a given subset are moved to formthe next subset of shades including the particular shade.

According to the sixth aspect of the embodiments, the shade controlnetwork further includes at least one intelligent hub connected to thecommunication network, the at least one intelligent hub having memorystorage capability for storage of database information regarding theshade control network, the method further comprising transmitting atleast a portion of the database of information to each of theintelligent hubs of the shade control network, and storing the portionof the database of information in memory at each of the intelligent hubsof the shade control network.

The aspects of the embodiments described herein seek to overcome or atleast ameliorate one or more of several problems, including but notlimited to providing an efficient system of networked motorized rollershades.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the embodiments will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments with reference to the following figures, Differentaspects of the embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of thedrawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosedherein are to be considered to illustrative rather than limiting. Thecomponents in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of theaspects of the embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional motorized roller shade covering awindow.

FIG. 2 illustrates various conventional computer data network topologiesthat may be suitable for connecting residential networks, such asshading, lighting, or combined shading and lighting devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional automated combined shading andlighting control network system that is suitable for use in, among otherplaces, a hotel suite, for controlling motorized roller shades,lighting, televisions, among other devices.

FIG. 4 illustrates a shading control network comprising motorized shadesincluding electronic drive units configured in a daisy-chain networktopology according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the electronic drive unit of FIG.4 and certain components thereof according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a lighting control network comprising light dimmersand keypads configured in a mesh network topology and suitable for usewithin an overall home automation system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a combined shading and lighting room automationcontrol system that includes a shade control network configured in adaisy-chain network topology, a light control network configured in amesh network, and an intelligent hub configured in a star networkaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a partial view of a combined shading and lightingroom automation control system similar to that of the system of FIG. 7that includes a shading control network configured in a daisy-chainnetwork topology, a lighting control network configured in a meshnetwork, and an intelligent hub configured in a star network accordingto a further embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic drive unit of FIG. 8and certain components thereof according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for controlling motorized rollershades by transmitting intensity levels from a room controller to one ormore of a plurality of motorized roller shades according to anembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for storing preset intensity levelsat one or more of a plurality of motorized roller shades according to anembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for controlling one or more of aplurality of motorized roller shades by transmitting a “set to preset”command from a room controller to at least one of the plurality of themotorized roller shades according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method for toggling the position of at leastone or a plurality of motorized roller shades between two presetpositions in response to an actuation of a shade preset actuatoraccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method for visually identifying a particularmotorized roller shade out of a plurality of motorized roller shades bythe “wiggle” method according to an embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS FOR THE MAJOR ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWINGS

The following is a list of the major elements in the drawings innumerical order.

-   102 Roller Tube-   104 Shade Fabric-   106 Motorized Roller Shade (Shade)-   108 Window-   202 Bus Network Topology-   204 Star Network Topology-   206 Daisy-chain Network Topology-   208 Tree Network Topology-   210 Root Node-   212 First Lower Level Node-   214 Second Lower Level Node-   216 Mesh Network Topology-   300 Combined Shading and Lighting Control Network System-   302 Room Controller-   304 Set-top Box-   306 Television-   308 Bus (RS-485/Cresnet)-   310 Interface Unit-   312 Transformer-   314 Light Dimmer-   316 Keypad-   318 Infra-red Signals-   320 Ethernet (CATS) Cable-   322 Wide Area Network (WAN)/Local Area Network (LAN)-   324 Lighting-   326 Electronic Data Unit-   400 Shading Control Network (Control Network)-   402 Room Controller With Integrated Display (House Controller)-   404 Intelligent Hub-   406 Power-Over Ethernet Cable-   408 Electronic Drive Unit-   410 Room Controller Integrated Display-   412 Power-over-Ethernet Power Supply-   414 Computer, Laptop, Tablet, Server, Personal Computer (PC)-   416 Universal Serial Bus (USB) Cable-   502 Elongated Motor-   504 Bearing-   506 Battery-   508 Control Electronics-   510 Input Communication/Power Interface (Input Interface)-   512 Output Communication/Power Interface (Output Interface)-   514 Relay/Switch Network-   600 Wireless Lighting Control Network (Lighting Control Network)-   602 Zigbee Gateway-   604 Motion Sensor-   606 Wireless Light Dimmer-   608 Wireless Keypad-   610 Speakers-   700 Combined Shading and Lighting Room Automation Control System    (Room Automation System)-   702 Wi-Fi Gateway-   704 Hotel Room Controller (Room Controller)-   706 Wireless Smoke Detector-   708 Wireless Door Lock-   710 Intelligent Hub (PoE and Zigbee)-   712 Wide Area Network (WAN)-   714 Lighting System (Lights)-   716 Shade Control Network-   718 Light Control Network-   720 Timing Device (Time Clock)-   800 Room Automation System (Second)-   802 Transformer-   804 Electronic Data Unit (Zigbee Network Node)-   806 Power Cable-   808 Hem Bar-   810 Small Battery-   812 Trickle Charge Connector-   814 Shade Control Network (Mesh and Daisy Chain; of Room Automation    System 800)-   902 Relay Network-   904 Control Electronics (with Relay Network 902)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive conceptare shown. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers andregions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout. The embodiments may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.The scope of the embodiments is therefore defined by the appendedclaims. The detailed description that follows is written from the pointof view of a control systems company, so it is to be understood thatgenerally the concepts discussed herein are applicable to varioussubsystems and not limited to only a particular controlled device orclass of devices, such as motorized roller shades.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included inat least one embodiment of the embodiments. Thus, the appearance of thephrases “in one embodiment” on “in an embodiment” in various placesthroughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the sameembodiment. Further, the particular feature, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

Attention is now directed towards FIG. 4, which illustrates shadingcontrol network 400 that comprises motorized shades that includeelectronic drive units (EDUs) 408 configured in a star and daisy-chainnetwork topology according to an embodiment. Shading control network 400illustrates shades 106 a-d (though those of skill in the art canappreciate that there can be more motorized shades, or less, and thatfour is simply a convenient number of shades to use for purposes ofillustration only), where each of shades 106 a-d includes correspondingelectronic drive unit 408 a-d, respectively.

Shading control system 400 further includes intelligent hub 404 and isconfigured in a star and daisy-chain mixed network topology. Intelligenthub 404 can be considered to be the “root node” and room controller 402and first electronic data unit (EDU) 408 a are the star nodes. The restof the EDUs 408 b-d are thereafter attached in a daisy-chain fashion tofirst EDU 408 a. According to an embodiment, intelligent hub 404provides electrical power to each node attached to it, either in thestar network topology, or in the daisy chain network topology. Theproviding of electrical power by the Ethernet connections can bereferred to as a PoE network. For example, room controller 402 withintegrated display 410 receives its electrical power from intelligenthub 404. According to an embodiment, when using PoE network protocols,the supplied electrical power can be 48 VDC, 12.95 watts maximum. Asthose of skill in the art can appreciate, these voltage and power levelsare but examples, and not meant to be taken in a limiting manner; othervoltages and/or power levels can be used dependent upon thecircumstances and applications. Those of ordinary skill in the art canappreciate that networks that supply electrical power to devices, suchas a PoE network providing power to motorized roller shades 106 are nottypically configured in daisy-chain topology 206 but are insteadconfigured in star topology 204.

However, it is known to those of skill in the art that PoE provides onlya limited amount of power. The limited amount of power available fromPoE power supply 412 (about 12.95 watts) is not enough to drive evenfour motorized roller shades 106 a-d simultaneously, let alone a dozenthat could be in a large room. However, according to embodiments, it canbe demonstrated that each of motorized roller shades 106 a-d can operateat a very low duty cycle; that is, instead of continuously operating,shades 106 are typically in motion less than 5% of the time (i.e. lessthan 3 minutes per hour). According to further embodiments, this meansthat it is possible to put power storage, such as battery 506 (shown inFIG. 5), at each shade 106 and still keep the power draw requirementsbelow the maximum capability of PoE power supply 412.

With a daisy-chain network topology including power storage at each node(i.e., batteries 506 at each of motorized roller shades 106 a-d), it ispossible to conveniently wire each of motorized roller shades 106 in thedaisy chain fashion, since each motorized roller shade 106 does notrequire “home run” wiring (i.e., wiring that goes from the respectivemotorized roller shade 106 to intelligent hub 404) back to a centralnode as it would with a star network topology. Also, supplying powerover the same wiring as the data network eliminates the need to providea dedicated electrical supply for power alone to each motorized rollershade 106. Those of skill in the art of residential home wiring canappreciate the disadvantage and additional work that would ensue ifhouse mains AC power (e.g. 115 VAC) would have to be provided at eachmotorized roller shade 106.

As described above, shading control network 400 can be used not only inor as part of a home automation system, but can also be part of a muchlarger, integrated hotel suite. As those of skill in the art canappreciate, such a configuration can include additional devices tocontrol, can be wired to larger networks such as a local area network(LAN), wide area network (WAN), or even the internet. The hotel suiteconfiguration is described in greater detail in regard to FIGS. 6 and 7,below. In such a configuration the room side of intelligent hub 404 canbe connected to room controller 402, as well as Wi-Fi gateway and aZigbee gateway 62. It is known to those skilled in the art that theWi-Fi and Zigbee wireless communication protocols conform to IEEE 802.11and IEEE 802.14, respectively.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 5, which illustrates EDU 408 of FIG. 4and certain components thereof according to an embodiment. As discussedabove in the description of FIG. 4, one of the aspects of theembodiments is a daisy-chained topology shading network using PoEprotocols. According to a further embodiment, the use of PoE isfacilitated by providing power storage at each of the network nodes,namely electronic drive units 408 a-d, which correspond to each of thefour controlled shades 106 a-d. According to one non-limiting aspect ofthe embodiments, power storage can be in the form of battery 506.

Each electronic drive unit 408 includes an elongated motor 502rotatingly driving a bearing 504. Bearing 504 is notched about its outerperiphery to facilitate engagement between bearing 504 and an interiorof roller tube 102 (shown in FIG. 1) in which elongated motor 502 isreceived. Each electronic drive unit 408 further includes battery 506and control electronics 508 that are attached to motor 502 oppositebearing 504 such that control electronics 508 are positioned adjacent anend of roller tube 102.

Control electronics 508 of electronic drive unit 408 includes amicroprocessor capable of monitoring the operation of elongated motor502 to track the position of the associated shade fabric 104 as it israised and lowered with respect to roller tube 102. Control electronics508 also controls elongated motor 502 to adjust the position of shadefabric 104 in accordance with instructions from intelligent hub 404.

Each of electronic drive units 408 further includes inputcommunications/power interface (input interface) 510, and outputcommunications/power interface (output interface) 512. According to afurther embodiment, each of the input and output interfaces 510, 512 canbe an RJ45 type connector capable of receiving/transmitting not onlycontrol/data signals over an Ethernet cable, but canreceive/feed-forward external power via PoE network wiring (PoE cables406). As those of skill in the art can appreciate, the use of one typeof connector or another is substantially immaterial, other than theconnector must meet the minimum required electrical requirements for thetransmission/reception of Ethernet data, and PoE. According to anembodiment, input and output interfaces 510, 512 respectively, provide aPoE wiring connection to provide power and communications transmissionsfor EDU 408, and according to another aspect of the embodiments, theprovided power is used by control electronics 508 to trickle-chargebattery 506.

According to further embodiments, input interface 508 b receives powerand data from a preceding EDU 408 a, or intelligent hub 710, and outputinterface 508 b feeds the power and data forward to a next motorizedroller shade 106 c/EDU 408 c (i.e., power and data are transmitted fromintelligent hub 710 to first motorized roller shade 106 a/EDU 408a/input interface 510 a, which then transmits the same power and datalines via output interface 512 a and PoE cables 406 to second motorizedroller shade 106 b/EDU 408 b/input interface 510 b).

According to a further embodiment, relays can be included in controlelectronics 508, such as one or more relay or switch (relay) networks514. Relay network 514 provides the capability of switching powerreceived by PoE cable 406 from a first EDU 408 to subsequent EDU 408′ asneeded by battery 506. If, for example, it is determined that one ormore batteries 506 needs recharging, then during quiet times, when nooperation of motorized roller shades 106 is expected or anticipated,power can be provided by PoE cable 406 to the particular battery 506 inneed of recharging, and any other EDUs connected thereto via PoE cable406 can be completely disconnected from PoE cable 406 thereby directingall the available re-charging current that can be carried by PoE cable406 to the particular battery or batteries 506 that need to berecharged. If instructions are received by any of room controller 704and intelligent hub 710, the recharging can be interrupted, relaysre-configured to allow power to flow again to the electronics within allof control electronics 508, and operation of room automation system 700can proceed. According to further aspects of the embodiments, one ormore batteries 506 of room automation system 700 can be recharged atsubstantially the same time.

According to a further embodiment, relay network 514 can also be used toextract energy stored in a first battery 506 and use it to charge asecond battery 506. As those of skill in the art can appreciate, abattery that has been discharged will lose potential, or batteryvoltage, and a second battery at a higher potential or voltage can beused to transfer energy stored in it to the first one that is moredischarged. Once the battery voltages are about the same, transfer ofenergy and re-charging will stop. As those of skill in the art canfurther appreciate, there can be instances wherein a first battery willlose its capacity to recharge fully over time, and will thereforedischarge to a lower voltage state faster than other batteries, and willneed to be re-charged more often. According to an embodiment, this modeof re-charging batteries 506 through the use of relay network 514 can bereferred to as a “vampire mode” of re-charging.

Referring back to FIG. 4, according to an aspect of the embodiments,intelligent hub 404 acts as an interface between EDUs 408 of respectiveshades 106 and a home automation system that includes certaincomponents, such as room controller 402. As those of skill in the artcan appreciate, home automation systems can be quite complex, including,but not limited to, the control of audio and video distribution,lighting, shades and drapes, heating/ventilation/air conditioning(HVAC), and security subsystems, among other devices. As shown in FIG.4, intelligent hub 404 resides between room controller 402 (which can bereferred to more generally as simply “house controller”) and motorizedroller shades 106. Intelligent hub 404, and the components attachedthereto, are substantially configured in a star topology; however eachshade 106 is wired back to intelligent hub 404 in a daisy-chain topologyand intelligent hub 404 provides power to each of shades 106, using forexample, PoE. Those of skill in the art can appreciate that otherdevices, such as audio speakers, can also be connected to PoEintelligent hub 404 and “home-runned” back to this hub.

Control electronics 508 for shade 106 also acts as a communications hub,rebroadcasting data received from house controller 402 to other shades106 that are daisy-chained together using PoE cable 406. Further, eachcontrol electronics 508 of respective shades 106 receives and transmitsback to house controller 402 data received from motorized roller shadesfurther down the daisy-chain line. For example, as shown in FIG. 4,control electronics 508 d of EDU 408 d of shade 106 d sends datapertaining to motorized roller shade 106 d to control electronics 508 cof EDU 408 c of shade 106 c, which then sends the data pertaining toshade 106 d to control electronics 508 b of EDU 408 b of shade 106 b,and so on back to house controller 402, through to intelligent hub 404.This allows longer lengths of wire (PoE cable 406) to be used since thedata/command signals are essentially received, amplified, andre-transmitted at each EDU 408.

Communication from downstream shades 106 back to house controller 402are handled on a first-to-respond basis, i.e. the first link to receivedata is assigned as the input, and the data received is broadcast out toall other links including house controller 402. Once communication hasceased, the link is relinquished, and the link waits for data to come infrom any other shade 106 or control network 400 sub-system.Additionally, communication faults on a shade link 406, such as ashort-to-ground, can be detected and isolated, preventing a failed shadedevice from suppressing communications elsewhere on control network 400.Failures such as this can occur due to a miswire of data lines, failureof transceiver hardware, or improper operation of communication softwarewithin shade 106.

Control electronics 508 of each shade 106 further provides for basicmanual user controls to cause its respective shade 106 to open andclose, or to be raised and lowered. This allows control by a user of thesystem prior to addressing and programming control network 400, or inthe event of a failure of control network 400. Control electronics 508of each shade 106 further provides a diagnostic feature to detect wiringfaults. The diagnostic test can be initiated by the installer from atest button, or initiated remotely, via the internet, or local networkcontrol. Shades 106 downstream can be queried and the voltage levels oftheir response analyzed and stored. A data table can be built of allshades 106 (or other devices that might be controlled by housecontroller 402) that pass or fail the test(s), and store the voltagelevels in a manner that is known to those of skill in the art. Theresults of the test can be displayed on integrated display 410 of housecontroller 402, or through use of light emitting diodes (LED) (or othervisual indicators) at control electronics 508, and still further bywiggling shades 106 up and down to indicate success of the test. Shadesthat do not move can be considered to have failed the test. The cause ofthe failure can be indicated in the form of an LED blink pattern, ordisplayed in different ways on integrated display 410. The results canalso be received and stored by house controller 402 and/or intelligenthub 404, and can further be transmitted to an external computer 414(which can also be referred to as a personal computer (PC), and whichfurther includes a server, laptop, tablet, or otherportable/non-portable computer device that includes one or moreprocessors, and other equipment/devices known by those of skill in theart) connected by universal serial bus (USB) cable 416 or other means(e.g., wireless 802.11 or other transmission protocols).

According to further embodiments, control electronics 508 provides theability to report its own status to control network 400. The statusreported can include information such as blown fuses, communicationfaults, the identification (ID) or serial number of the shade 106connected to the respective control electronic 508, power consumption ofcontrol electronics 508, power consumption of motor 502, and battery 506statistics (e.g., current voltage, maximum and minimumcharged/discharged voltage, number of charge/discharge cycles, amongother battery statistical data).

FIG. 6 depicts a lighting control network 600 comprising light dimmers606 and keypads 608 configured in a mesh network topology and suitablefor use within an home automation system according to an embodiment. Notshown, but understood to be included, are lighting loads 324. Lightingcontrol network 600 can be used in conjunction with control network 400in a home environment, hotel environment, or other commercial space, asdiscussed in greater detail below. Lighting control network 600 furtherincludes Zigbee gateway 602 (which is essentially a low-power, low-datarate wireless modem/router) and motion sensors 604.

As discussed above, mesh networks are wireless networks that allowdevices to communicate between the device and a central hub (Zigbeegateway 602), and between the device and one or more other devices insuch a manner as to have substantially complete data transmissionredundancy. In this manner, communications capability is very robust, asthere are inherently several paths in which the data/commands that aredesired to be communicated can do so. Thus, in the configuration shownin FIG. 6, which, as those of skill in the art can appreciate, containsonly a few devices to illustrate the principles of operation,communications can exist between Zigbee gateway 602 and keypad 608 a andlight dimmer 606 a. Light dimmer 606 a can communicate to either or bothkeypad 608 a and light dimmer 606 b, Zigbee gateway 602, and speakers610; keypad 608 b can communicate to both keypad 608 a and motion sensor604. If any one of the devices exhibits a failure, because of theredundancy built into the lighting control network 600 using meshnetwork technology, the commands/data can still at least try a secondpath to arrive at their proper destination. Also shown in FIG. 6 arespeakers 610, which can also communicate with Zigbee gateway 602.

As those of skill in the art can appreciate, lighting control system 600with use of mesh network technology can encompass many other devices. Inthat case, instead of having each device being capable of communicatingwith two devices, multiple devices—three, four, or even more—can becommunicated with by each device. Of course, providing for wirelesscommunications over multiple redundant paths can increase costs, but itdoes make the system more robust, and also allows for higher datathroughput.

FIG. 7 depicts combined shading and lighting room automation controlsystem (room automation system) 700 that includes a shading controlnetwork configured in a daisy-chain network topology, a lighting controlnetwork configured in a mesh network, and an intelligent hub configuredin a star network, for use as a system suitable for control of a hotelsuite, or one or more rooms in a private suite according to anembodiment. Room automation system 700 incorporates control network 400,which includes PoE interconnections between intelligent hub 404 and EDUs408 of each or shades 106. In addition, intelligent hub 710 is connectedvia PoE cables 406 to Wi-Fi gateway 702, which allows for communicationsto PC 414 wirelessly (which can be, as those of skill in the art canappreciate, personal computers/laptops or a central server), or to PC414 via a wired connection (USB cable 416, or via WAN 712). In thismanner, a user can use their PC 414, with specialized software or otherapplications (Apps) to control the shading and lighting within the room,wherever the room is located (hotel, home, or other commercial space).Intelligent hub 710 is substantially similar to that of intelligent hub404, the main difference being, according to embodiments, thatintelligent hub 710 contains additional software/programmingcapabilities not present in intelligent hub 404 that make it capable ofcommunicating with room controller 704, Wi-Fi gateway 702, WAN 712, andZigbee gateway 602, and controlling room automation system 700.

Intelligent hub 710 is further connected via PoE cables 406 to roomcontroller 704, and WAN 710. Room controller 704 is connected, viainfrared communications, to set-top box 304 and television 306, and isfurther connected to all of the other devices within the room as shownin FIG. 7 through either a wired connection, i.e., PoE cable 406(including, for example, EDU 408), or through a wireless connection, viaZigbee gateway 602. As those of skill in the art can appreciate, otherwireless means exist for communicating in a fashion similar to Zigbee,but few provide the combination of affordability and performance. Roomcontroller 704 provides the main interface according to an embodimentbetween external control systems, such as front desk control system in ahotel environment, and the individual systems/devices within the room asshown in FIG. 7. Room controller 704 can further include a timingfunction, i.e., timing device 720, for use in setting and executingstored settings and pre-programmed functions and operations. Inaddition, as discussed in greater detail below, keypad 608 can assume atleast some of the functions of room controller 704, and so in somecircumstances can be interchangeable. However, for purposes of thisdiscussion, reference will only be made to room controller 704 as beingcapable of controlling all of the devices within the room shown in FIG.7, and further the only device capable of bi-directional communicationswith external control systems per Wi-Fi gateway 702 and WAN 712.

WAN 712 allows for interconnection to other servers and computers (notshown) that, especially in use in a commercial and/or hotel environment,allows for remote monitoring and/or control of the operations of roomautomation system 700. For purposes of example only, if room automationsystem 700 was located in a large meeting hall, for example a largeconvention center, then it could be advantageous to remotely monitorand/or control operations therein as such rooms are very expensive torent or lease, and the control of the lights, shades and other similarapparatus can be very important not only to the occupants but the ownersin terms of security, energy costs, and other concerns.

In terms of a home environment, WAN 712 and Wi-Fi gateway 702 allows forinterconnection with the internet that allows for remote monitoringand/or control by a user or owner. Such remote operational capabilitiesprovides for enhanced security, and conservation of resources. A user orowner can even control lighting and shades 106 by an App on their cellphone (e.g., 3G/4G (long term evolution (LTE) “smart phone”) or otherremote, personal communications devices; such operation can make it looklike one or more people are in the house, when in reality theowners/occupants could be hundreds or thousands of miles away. Toeffectuate such command and control, intelligent hub 710 can beconnected to Zigbee gateway 602.

As those of skill in the art can appreciate, Zigbee gateway 602 is butjust one of a plurality of devices that can be used for low power, lowdata rate communications between intelligent hub 710 andshading/lighting and other types of devices 604, 606, 608, 610, 706, and708. Each of these will be discussed in turn.

Through use of room controller 704, a user can be notified of detectionof a person via motion sensor 604, or, room automation system can beprogrammed to turn on certain one or more lights if detection of aperson and/or movement occurs. This, of course, can provide additionalsecurity. If it is thought that no one should be in the room, thenadditional security measures can be taken, again via programming of roomautomation system 700, to alert an alarm company as well as the owner oruser.

Through use of room controller 704, an owner/operator can control lightsvia light dimmer 606. Light dimmer 606, as discussed in regard to FIG.6, can communicate wirelessly with Zigbee gateway 602, and receive/sendcommands/data there-between. This allows the owner/operator to controlthe lighting instantaneously, or via a programmed setting (i.e., turnthe lights on full at 5:15 PM, then dim them at 10:30 PM, then turn themoff at 02:00 AM, and so on).

Room controller 704 and intelligent hub 710 can also communicate via PoEcable 406 and wirelessly via Zigbee gateway 602 to wireless keypad(keypad) 608. Keypads 608 can be used for many different applications,and can be both inside and outside a room. Keypad 608 can be used toreceive a code that allows entrance into a room through use of door lock708; or keypad 608 can receive a temperature setting from anowner/occupant and have that information transferred to room controller704 (which can then transfer that information to a combined heating/airconditioning unit (not shown)); keypad 608 can also receivenotifications from the owner/occupant as to what lights to illuminate,and at what brightness setting, and also open or close shades 106. Asthose of skill in the art can appreciate, there are numerous other usesof keypad 608 that are made easier and more productive via use ofwireless communications with Zigbee gateway 602, intelligent hub 710,and room controller 704.

Smoke detectors (hereinafter generally referred to as “detectors”; thedetectors can be smoke, fire, carbon monoxide, pathogen(s), nuclear, andother bio-hazard type detectors) 706, while not generally requiring orproviding much user interface or controllability, can communicate toroom controller 704 via wireless communications through Zigbee gateway602, and can further communicate to a central control/monitoring system(not shown) that would be interested in the event of any one or more ofthe different types of detections. In addition, the same systems cancommunicate with detectors 706 to ascertain their state of readiness,and to provide false alarms to test the responsiveness of personal indifferent buildings and/or rooms.

Wireless door lock (door lock) 708 can receive wireless commands fromintelligent hub 710 that have been transferred to it via either/both WAN712 and Wi-Fi 702; these commands can originate from a central controlsystem, such as front desk in a hotel environment, and which providecontrol information such as a resettable lock combination (i.e., aresettable code), or to accept a certain programmed key card that arenow ubiquitously used in hotels. Door lock can receive the encodedinformation from a programmable key card via keypad 608, or can receivea universal override code that might allow the management of the hotelfacility to open any door. Further, door lock 708 can report failedattempt (and successful ones) to enter the room.

Embodiments regarding how the above-described constructions can used toprogram room automation system 700 will now be discussed in greaterdetail. In general, the programming of motorized roller shades 106, aswell as other components of room automation system 700 will includeaddressing each component of room automation system 700. The programmingof room automation system 700 can also include setting open and closelimits for each of electronic drive units (EDUs) 408 and assigning oneor more EDUs 408 to respective room controllers 704 (it can be the casethat in larger environments there could be multiple room controllers704).

For proper operation of the above-described room automation system 700,each component included in room automation system 700 must be given aunique address identifier to distinguish the components of roomautomation system 700 from each other. As described above, roomautomation system 700 utilizes a communication network in which all ofthe system components are connected to either a common communicationsbus, PoE cable 406, or wirelessly via Zigbee gateway 602. The use of PoEcable 406 provides for “soft addressing” of the system components inwhich a unique address can be automatically assigned to each componentwhen a user enters a “system configuration mode.” As will be describedbelow, the system configuration mode is used to address components andto assign EDUs 408 to room controllers 704. The system configurationmode can also be activated from any one of keypads 608, or from analternate device or control system linked to room automation system 700through Wi-Fi gateway 702 and/or WAN 712. However, as discussed above,in fulfillment of the dual purposes of clarity and brevity, referenceshall only be made to system configuration with use of room controller704.

Aspects of the embodiments provide for automatic addressing of systemcomponents, which results in each of the components having a uniqueaddress identifier associated with it. As those of the skill in the artcan appreciate, however, the identifiers need not be assigned by roomautomation system 700 according to any particular series or pattern andcould, for example, be accomplished by random numbering. It is onlyrequired that the address identifiers be unique such that roomautomation system 700 can distinguish one component of room automationsystem 700 from another.

Room automation system 700 according to embodiments provides foraddressing of system components from room controllers 704 as follows.Room controller 704 is placed in “system configuration mode” by pressingand holding one or more pre-defined buttons, or via some other means.Following engagement of the system configuration mode button(s), anindicator will show that room controller 704 is ready to beginaddressing room automation system 700. Another button or key (one ofskill in the art can appreciate that these are but non-limitingexamples, and that many different means are available, e.g., “soft keys”on a touch screen display, all of which should be considered within theaspects of the embodiments, for starting and starting differentprocesses within room controller 704 and room automation system 700; infulfillment of the dual purposes of clarity and brevity, reference shallbe made from hereon in only to “buttons”) is pressed to initiateautomatic addressing by room controller 704 that then assigns a uniqueidentifying address to each component of room automation system 700.

While the system components are being addressed by room controller 704,an indicator will show that each of the devices found are beingaddressed. When each device has been addressed, another indicator canshow that the actions have been completed. This indicates thataddressing is complete and that the “system configuration mode” can beexited, such as by pressing another button, or the same as was pressedto enter system configuration mode. According to further embodiments,room automation system 700 can also be configured to provide for exitingof the system configuration mode automatically once configuration hasbeen completed.

In addition to providing a visual indication of various programmingstages, indicators are available that show that room controller 704 alsoprovides a confirmation of correct wiring of the room. Automaticaddressing of the components of the shades can also be initiated viaroom controller 704 as follows. Pressing and holding a close limitbutton of room controller 704 for several seconds, for example, willplace room controller 704 in a “ready to address” mode. Addressing ofthe shade system components by room controller 704 is then initiated bypressing another button, in this case, an adjustment button.

Control of the shades by room controller 704 according to embodiments isalso programmable to set an “open limit” position and a “close limit”position for each of EDUs 408. These limits determine how far theassociated shade fabric 104 will travel when its respective EDU 408 isdirected to drive shade fabric 104 to the full open or full closepositions. The shade limit positions can be set for EDU 408 using roomcontroller 704 as follows. Pressing an open limit button of roomcontroller 704 actuates a “set open limit” for that EDU 408 and anadjustment button room controller 704 can then be used to move theassociated shade fabric 104 to the desired full open position. Withshade fabric 104 in the desired position, the user presses and holds anopen limit button. An indicator will then show that the current positionfor the EDU 408 has been stored by room controller 704 as the open limitfor that particular EDU and shade fabric 104. In a similar fashion, aclose limit button of room controller 704 provides for setting thedesired close limit position using adjustment buttons in a “set closelimit mode” for the respective EDU 408. According to furtherembodiments, the open and close limits of different motorized rollershades 106 can also be set using the room's respective keypad 608 in amanner similar to that of room controller 704.

As described above, room automation system 700 according to embodimentsutilizes a communication network in which each component of roomautomation system 700 is connected to one or more communications buses,as shown in FIG. 7. The physical communications' connections facilitatesconfiguration, or reconfiguration, of room automation system 700 duringvarious programming stages including system addressing, setting of EDU408 limit positions and assignment of EDUs 408 to keypads 608.Construction of the communication network according to the embodimentsdescribed herein provides for troubleshooting and reporting ofoperational errors that may occur. As described above, signals directingcontrol electronics 508 of electronic drive units 408 to move theassociated shade fabrics 104 will be transmitted to EDUs 408 from roomcontroller 704 at various times during operation and configuration ofroom automation system 700. In the event that an EDU 408 fails to movethe associated motorized roller shade 106 in response to such a command,room controller 704 can be arranged to diagnose and report variousfailures or conditions that may be responsible. For example, roomcontroller 704 could be arranged to check such a failing EDU 408 forhardware conditions including stalling of motor 502, overheating ofmotor 502, duty cycle and software problems including corrupted positiondata.

According to further embodiments, room controller 704 can beinterrogated following failure of EDU 408 to respond for any systemicconditions, such as excess number of devices or duplication of componentaddresses for example. Following diagnosis of an EDU 408 failure torespond, room automation system 700 provided for error reporting to roomcontroller 704 from which the command signal originated. Error reportingat the originating device can be achieved by various types ofdisplay(s), using various combination of on/off or flash rate lightingconditions of LEDs of the originating device. According to furtherembodiments, keypad 608 and/or room controller 704 can be modified toinclude a display (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), LED display,among others) to report numbered codes at an originating device.

Room controller 704 according to embodiments has been described hereinfor configuring and operating multiple motorized roller shades 106having internal motors 502 driving roller tube 102. Different aspects ofthe embodiments, however, are not so limited and can be used in otherapplications. For example, room controller 704 can be used to controlshade rollers having external motors driving roller tubes. According tofurther embodiments, room controller 704 can also be applied toconfigure and operate other motor driven window treatments includingroman shades and draperies, for example.

Room automation system 700 according to embodiments facilitatesconfiguration of the different system components, in the mannerdescribed above for example for addressing, limit setting, andassignment. The communication network room automation system 700 alsofacilitates modification of an established network as described below,to facilitate replacement of a device or combination of multiplenetworks without requiring loss of programming for the establishednetwork.

As described above, room automation system 700 includes multiplemotorized roller shades 106 each including EDU 408 connected to arotatably supported roller tube 102 that windingly receives a flexibleshade fabric 104. Room automation system 700 can also include otherdevices such as keypads 608 and room controllers 704 that can controlEDUs 408 of motorized roller shades 106. Room controllers 704 controlassigned motorized roller shades 106 by directing EDUs 408 to raise orlower the associated shade fabric 104 to a desired shade position or,alternatively, to move shade fabric 104 to a preset shade positionstored in a memory. During initialization of room automation system 700each room controller 704 is associated with one or more EDUs 408. Thisprocess is known as EDU assignment.

EDUs 408 of motorized roller shades 106, and room controller 704, ofroom automation system 700 are interconnected by PoE cables 406 and/orZigbee wireless communications. PoE cables 406 provide for transmissionof signals and power between intelligent hub 710 (which receivescommands/data from room controller 704) and EDUs 408 for control ofmotorized roller shades 106 and for communication of network-relatedinformation.

The components and devices of the room automation system 700 arepreferably interconnected such that each component or device cancommunicate with every other component or device on the network. Asuitable shade network for use in the integrated control systemaccording to embodiments is shown and described in regard to FIGS. 4-7.Each of EDUs 408 and room controller 704 can have memory storagecapability to provide for storage at the respective device(s) of adatabase of information including network related information such asdevice addresses and EDU assignments, for example. As those of skill inthe art can appreciate, it is not a requirement according to theembodiments to have such memory storage, but each device of roomautomation system 700 can be adapted for memory storage. According tofurther embodiments, room automation system 700 can further include oneor more centralized devices capable of memory storage for storage ofnetwork related information at those locations instead of at EDUs 408 orroom controller 704 of room automation system 700. In addition tomotorized roller shades 106 and room controller 704, room automationsystem 700 can also further include other devices connected to roomcontroller 704.

The term “fully-opened” as used herein should be understood as referringto a position for a motorized shading treatment that provides a minimumof light blockage for shading area, such as defined by a window forexample, for which the shading treatment provides shading. The term“fully-closed” as used herein should be understood as referring toposition for the motorized shading treatment that provides for maximumlight blockage for the shading area by the shading treatment. In asimilar manner, relative terms such as “half-opened” or “partiallyopened” should be understood in relation to the “fully-opened” or“fully-closed” positions for the shading treatment.

The lighting system of room automation system 700 includes dimmableloads, such as lamps, or lighting 714. In a manner similar to themotorized roller shades 106, the dimmable loads of lighting system 714are interconnected in a network arrangement that provides for receipt ofrequired power by the dimmable loads for lighting system 714. Lightingsystem 714 can also include light dimmers 606, each adapted forcontrolling one or more dimmable loads of lighting system 714. The useof room controller 704 and light dimmers 606 in room automation system700 facilitates optional programming and operation of the motorizedroller shades 106 and lights. According to further embodiments,integrated control of both motorized roller shades 106 and lights 714controlled by light dimmer 606 from a centralized location is providedfor by room automation system 700 as further discussed below.

Room automation system 700 includes room controller 704. As shown inFIG. 7, room controller 704 is connected to motorized roller shades 106and other devices via PoE cable 406 via intelligent hub 710 and Zigbeegateway 602, and is adapted for integrated control of all of the devicesshown in FIG. 7. Room automation system 700 also includes keypads 608connected to room automation system 700 for controlling either motorizedroller shades 106 or the dimmable loads of lighting system 714 via lightdimmers 606 from a single convenient location, such as a wall-mountedlocation for example.

Room controller 704 functions to transmit control signals, input at oneof keypads 608, for example, to lighting system 714 and to directlighting system 714 to modify the current delivered by dimmers 606. Thecurrent for the dimmable loads is set by room controller 704 and/orlight dimmer 606 to a particular intensity level ranging between about 0to about 100 percent in response to the command signal from roomcontroller 704. The intensity levels for the dimmable loads of lightingsystem 714 can be raised and lowered by a user to a desired level or,alternatively, can be set to a preset intensity level programmed intoroom automation system 700 for the dimmable load.

Although not shown in detail, room controller 704 can include raise andlower actuators for respectively increasing or decreasing the intensitylevel for a dimmable load of lighting system 714 or for raising orlowering shade fabric 104 of motorized roller shade 106 in roomautomation system 700. Room controller 704 further can include aplurality of preset actuators for directing motorized roller shades 106or the dimmable loads respectively, assigned to the actuator to a presetintensity level (or equivalent shade position) that has been programmedinto room controller 704. Room controller 704 can also include visualindicators such as LEDs. The LEDs provide a visual feedback, forindicating to a user whether a dimmable load of the lighting system ison or off, for example, or whether motorized roller shade 106 is in afirst or second preset position as described below in greater detail.

As described above, room controller 704 works within room automationsystem 700, and is configured to direct EDUs 408 of motorized rollershades 106 to raise or lower associated shade fabrics 104 to a desiredshade position or to move motorized roller shades 106 to a preset shadeposition that has been programmed into memory storage. Room controller704, as described in the preceding paragraphs, is adapted to directsignals representing intensity level, appropriate in use of lightingsystem 714 for controlling a dimmable load. To provide for control ofmotorized roller shades 106, commands representing intensity level canbe converted into a shade position value more appropriate to a shadecontrol system. Room controller 704 is further configured according toembodiments to convert the intensity level values transmitted from roomcontroller 704, in response to user inputs, into shade position valuessuch that an intensity level of about zero (0) percent is equivalent toa shade in a fully-closed position and an intensity level of about 100percent is equivalent to a shade in a fully-opened position. In thismanner, existing lighting control systems 714 can be modified into thean integrated control system as embodied by room automation system700/room controller 704 capable of controlling motorized roller shades106 and lights with only limited changes to the existing lighting system714 being required.

As can be appreciated by those of skill in the art, keypads 608, lightdimmers 606, lighting system 714, motion sensors 604, detectors 706, androom controller 704, can all be wall-mountable for installation in aconvenient location that facilitates access to the different componentsof room automation system 700 by a user. According to furtherembodiments, however, those of skill in the art can appreciate that roomautomation system 700 can also include hand held infrared transmitters(not shown) generating infrared signals for receipt by an infraredreceiver connected to different components of room automation system 700including, but not limited to, set top box 304, television 306, keypads608, light dimmers 606, lighting system 714, and room controller 704.

Those of skill in the art can appreciate that room controller 704 can beconnected to PC 414 via Wi-Fi gateway 702 and/or WAN 712, as shown inFIG. 7. Connection of PC 414 to room controller 704 can also beaccomplished via an interface through intelligent hub as shown in FIG. 7through USB cable 416, or directly to room controller 704 by second USBcable 416. Connecting PC 414 to intelligent hub 710 provides forprogramming and control efficiencies through the use of graphical userinterface (GUI) software running on PC 414. Such GUI software providesfor screen displays and user selection prompts to facilitate systemprogramming and other functions such as system diagnosis features fortroubleshooting problems and installing new systems. Although PC 414,and the GUI software loaded thereon, may also facilitate normaloperation of room controller 704 following installation or maintenanceof room automation system 700, it is not required. According toadditional embodiments, PC 414 can be connected to room controller 704directly solely for the purpose of programming room controller 704 withthe necessary information to provide for subsequent operation of roomautomation system 700 via room controller 704. Following completion ofthe required programming of room controller 704, therefore, PC 414 canbe disconnected from room controller 704 for normal operation of roomautomation system 700 without PC 414.

In room automation system 700, room controller 704 can further includememory storage of system related information and for directing commandsignals relating to intensity levels to lighting 714 and motorizedroller shades 106. As described above, PC 414 can be used to operateroom automation system 700. PC 414 can be permanently included in roomautomation system 700 for use of the processor and memory storagecapabilities of PC 414 instead of including room controller 704,according to further embodiments. The use of a separate room controller704, as shown in several figures, however, provides for a more robustand durable construction for room automation system 700.

According to further embodiments, room automation system 700 can furtherinclude time clock 720 that is associated with room controller 704.Association of time clock 720 with room controller 704 provides forstorage of time-based information in memory of room controller 704regarding the position or condition of motorized roller shades 106 andthe dimmable loads of lighting system 714. For motorized roller shades106, for example, room controller 704 can store information regardingshade position of a given motorized roller shade 106 at a given time ofday. Such time-based information regarding the motorized rollers shades106 can then be used to create a macro program for directing all of, oronly part of the set of motorized roller shades 106 to automaticallymove the given motorized roller shade 106 to certain shade positions atdifferent times of day based on the historical time-based informationstored in memory by room controller 704. Once the macro program has beencreated, a user in a residential setting for example could activate theprogram, when leaving on a vacation, to provide for automatic control ofmotorized roller shades 106 to mimic occupied use of the residence inaccordance with the historical time-based information regardingmotorized rollers shades 106 stored in memory by room controller 704.

As briefly discussed above, room controller 704 of room controller 700can also be connected to a security system for the home or facility inwhich the room automation system is installed. Room controller 704 canalso be programmed to set all of the dimmable loads of lighting system714 to full intensity or to flash them rapidly, in response to an alertsignal transmitted to room controller 704 by the security system. Roomautomation system 700 can also be programmed to move all of themotorized roller shades 106 to a fully-opened position, therebymaximizing the effect produced in an alert mode by the dimmable loads ofthe lighting system 714. Room automation system 700 can alternatively beprogrammed to move all or part of motorized roller shades 106 to theirfully-opened positions and then to cycle between the fully-openedposition and a partially closed position to provide an additional alertsignal.

As shown in FIG. 7, room automation system 700 further includesintelligent hub 710 connected between room controller 704 and all of theother devices within the room or area controller by room automationsystem 700. Intelligent hub 710 further includes a buffer to storefeedback information from motorized roller shades 106 regarding theposition or condition of the motorized roller shades 106. The storage ofthe feedback information from motorized roller shades 106 by the bufferfacilitates independent operation of motorized roller shades 106 fromlighting system 714 for continued operation of either in the event of afailure of room controller 704, for example.

The inclusion of intelligent hub 710 having a buffer also facilitatesconversion of an existing lighting control system into room automationsystem 700 capable of controlling lights and shades. In such a lightingcontrol network system, such as that provided by Crestron's Cresnet®, astreaming protocol communication system can be utilized. In acommunication system based on streaming protocol, packets of informationare periodically transmitted between interconnected components. Thisform of communication is contrasted to an event-based protocol system ofcommunication in which information is transmitted in response to anevent, such as an input command via a keypad controller or feedbackinformation following action by a component in response to a command(e.g., a motorized shade confirms movement in response to a command orindicates a failure condition).

A streaming protocol system provides for more flexibility inconfiguration of a control system, such as room automation system 700.This is particularly desirable in control systems where relativelyinexpensive devices are controlled, such as in lighting control systemsfor example, because network information can be transmitted from acentralized location without the need for memory storage at each device.The buffer capabilities of intelligent hub 710 provides for modificationof an existing lighting control system that uses a streaming protocolcommunication, to add a shade control system adapted to communicatebased on an event-based protocol, with limited changes to the lightingcontrol system being required.

According to further embodiments, there may be occasions where it isdesirable to link a first established room automation system 700 a witha second room automation system 700 b separately established from firstroom automation system 700 a. Such a situation could occur, for example,during construction or remodeling of a facility. The separatelyestablished room automation systems 700 a,b can include separatelyaddressed devices. Such a situation creates the possibility that amerger of the previously separate room automation systems 700 a,b couldresult in multiple sets of devices sharing a common device address. Toresolve the address conflict in conventional control systems,reprogramming of the conflicting devices, or of the entire system, isrequired. Reprogramming can be a time-consuming task, particularly wherereprogramming of an entire system is required.

FIG. 8 illustrates a partial view of combined shading and lighting roomautomation control system (room automation system) 800 similar to thatof the system of FIG. 7 that includes shade control network 814configured in a combined mesh and daisy-chain network topology, lightcontrol network 718 configured in a mesh network, and intelligent hub710 configured in a star network according to a further embodiment. FIG.9 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic drive unit of FIG. 8 andcertain components thereof according to an embodiment. While similar,there are substantive differences between room automation system 700 androom automation system 800 according to embodiments. One such differentis wall transformer 802, which provides motor and battery re-chargingpower to motor 502 and battery 506, respectively, of EDU 804 (which, asits number implies, is different from EDU 408).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 (in which many of the componentsthat do not have substantive differences with like components of FIG. 7have been omitted in fulfillment of the dual purposes of clarity andbrevity), EDU 804, shown in greater detail in FIG. 9, includes relayswitch network 902, and control electronics 904 (which, as its numberimplies, is different from control electronics 508). Control electronics904 includes relay switch 902 that provides for additional functionalityin regard to power distribution than is present in control electronics508 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, transformer 802, through power cable 806, providesthe sole means of power to all of motorized roller shades 106 accordingto an embodiment. Relay switch network 902 provides the means fordirecting the flow of power to motorized roller shades 106 according toa further embodiment. That is, the power from transformer 802 can bedirected through relay switch network 902 to re-charge battery 506 ofmotorized roller shade 106 directly via power cable 806, whicheliminates the need to run PoE cable 406 from intelligent hub 710 to thefirst EDU. Further, relay switch 902 can shunt power away from one ormore of control electronics 904 should it be necessary to re-charge oneor more batteries 506; this prevents any current from being used by anyone or more of control electronics 904 when one or more batteries 506needs to be recharged, as discussed above. In addition, relay switch 902allows one or more batteries 506 to re-charge each other as discussedabove in the “vampire-mode” of recharging. The configuration of FIG. 8and room automation system 800 is different than that of room automationsystem 700 as shown in FIG. 7 in that power to motorized roller shades106 in room automation system 700 is provided by PoE cables 406 directlyfrom intelligent hub 710, as discussed above.

According to still a further embodiment, room automation system 800includes additional features over that of room automation system 700:hem bars 808 contain small batteries 810, and trickle charge connectors812 for trickle-charge re-charging of batteries 506 according to anembodiment. Small batteries 810 can be located in hem bars 808. As thoseof skill in the art can appreciate, hem bars 808 are used in shades anddraperies to provide a place to store a weight that keeps shades 104substantially still in the presence of light drafts, such as what mightbe caused by air conditioning air currents, or heating air currents, orwhen the shades and/or drapes are moved. Specially fabricated hem bars808 can be made to contain small batteries 810 and relay network 902 canbe programmed and/or manipulated such that a small trickle-chargere-charging current can be provided via trickle charge connection 812 toone or more of batteries 506. According to further embodiments, smallbatteries 810 can themselves be standard alkaline cells, or rechargeablecells, such as AA rechargeable cells, or they can be specially designedand fabricated battery packs made up of rechargeable cells such as thoseused in the camcorder, laptop, and cell phone industries. According tofurther embodiments, hem bar 808 and its components and functionalitycan also be implemented in room automation system 700.

According to a further embodiment, EDU 804 differs from previouslypresented EDU 408 in that it incorporates a Zigbee mesh network node, sothat a first PoE cable 406 does not need to be connected to it fromintelligent hub 710, yet intelligent hub 710 and room controller 704 (aswell as other devices connected to WAN 712 and/or Wi-Fi gateway 702) canand do control it via Zigbee gateway 602.

As those of skill in the art can further appreciate, and as discussedabove, room automation system 800 includes any and all of the componentsas shown and described in reference to room automation system 700 inFIG. 7. Further, any and all of the operations and functionalitydescribed above, including but not limited to automatic addressing,remote monitoring and control, user of Zigbee gateway 602, programming,confirmation of correct wiring, configuration and reconfiguration ofdevices, interrogation and error reporting, memory storage of differentdevices, use of system configuration mode, use of time clock, connectionto security system, use of streaming protocols and Cresnet®, and linkingto similar room automation systems 800 (i.e., 800 a linked to 800 blinked to 800 c, and so on), exist in and can be used in a similarmanner in room automation system 800 as in regard to room automationsystem 700 according to further aspects of the embodiments.

As those of skill in the art can appreciate, a plurality of methods canbe used for control of motorized roller shades 106, lighting 714, andthe other devices by room automation systems 700 and 800 (according tofurther aspects of the embodiments, as discussed above, all of thefunctionality of the devices shown in room automation system 700 can beused in a substantially similar manner as in room automation system 800;therefore, in order to improve readability, and in fulfillment of thedual purposes of clarity and brevity, further discussion in regard tothe methods of FIGS. 10-14 apply equally to room automation system 800as in regard to room automation system 700, and therefore it will not benecessary to call out room automation system 800 in the followingdiscussions). In controlling motorized roller shades 106 and lighting714, it can be convenient to organize and/or define some of thecomponents of FIGS. 6 and 7 as separate networks. Therefore, accordingto an embodiment, a shade control network 716 can be defined ascomprising Wi-Fi gateway 702, WAN 712, room controller 704, PoE cables406, and motorized roller shades 106 (and all of its constituentcomponents, as shown in FIG. 5). Furthermore, according to anotheraspect of the embodiments, a light control network 718 can be defined ascomprising Wi-Fi gateway 702, WAN 712, room controller 704, Zigbeegateway 602, light dimmers 606, and lighting 714. In addition, accordingto another aspect of the embodiments, keypads 608, and motion sensors604 can be considered to be part of both shade control network 716 andlight control network 718. In regard to room automation system 800,shade control network 814 is substantially similar to shade controlnetwork 716, but does not include PoE cable 406 between intelligent hub710 and first motorized shade 106 a, and does include transformer 802.According to a further aspect of the embodiments, light control network718 is substantially similar for both room automation systems 700 and800.

As described above, room controller 704 can be programmable according toan embodiment for memory storage of preset intensity levels formotorized roller shades 106. According to one method of control, roomcontroller 704 can be programmed to store in memory therein the presetintensity levels for the dimmable loads of lighting system 714 and formotorized roller shades 106. One such method of control is discussed inregard to the method flowchart of FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of method 1000 for control of motorized rollershades 106 by transmitting intensity levels from room controller 704 tomotorized roller shade 106. In response to actuation of a shade presetactuator on room controller 704 (at step 1002), room controller 704transmits the preset intensity level to motorized roller shade 106 (atstep 1004). The intensity level is received by the associated motorizedroller shade 106 and converted to a shade position (at step 1006).Motorized roller shade 106 then directs its EDU 408 to move shade fabric104 to the shade position equivalent to the intensity level transmittedby room controller 704 (at step 1008).

According to a further embodiment, the preset information could first betransmitted to each of the motorized roller shades 106, as part ofprogramming of room automation system 700. As described above, each ofmotorized roller shades 106 includes control electronics 508 as part ofits respective EDU 408. Control electronics 508, in addition tocontrolling recharging of batter 506 and receipt of commands fromintelligent hub 710, and transmission of data thereto as well, furthercan incorporate memory for storing settings, and other information, asneeded.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of method 1100 for storage of preset intensitylevels at motorized roller shades 106. Using room controller 704 havingGUI software, a user can be prompted to enter desired preset intensitylevels for each of the motorized roller shades 106 of at step 1102. Adatabase of preset intensities is then compiled by room controller 704using the GUI software in room controller 705 (at step 1104) andtransmitted by room controller 704 to intelligent hub 710 (at step 1106)for storage in memory at each of motorized roller shades 106 (at step1108). According to a further embodiment, instead of entering the presetintensity levels in room controller 704, PC 414 can be used to enter andtransmit the levels to room controller 704.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of method 1200 for control of motorized rollershade 106 by transmitting a “set to preset” command from room controller704 to each of motorized roller shades 106. According to this aspect ofthe embodiments, subsequent actuation of a preset actuator on roomcontroller 704 (at step 1202) causes room controller 704 to transmit a“set to preset” command (at step 1204). This differs from method 1000shown in FIG. 10, in which a signal representing the actual intensitylevel is transmitted to motorized roller shade 106 by room controller704 based on database information stored in memory at room controller704. According to method 1200, the “set to preset” command istransferred to motorized roller shade 106 (at step 1206) that accessesthe database of information stored at motorized roller shade 106 todetermine the intensity level associated with the “set to preset”command (at step 1208). Motorized roller shade 106 then converts theintensity level to an equivalent shade position and directs its EDU 408to move shade fabric 104 to the equivalent shade position (at step1210). Transmitting a “set to preset” command provides for reduction inthe total communication time because the same “set to preset” commandcan be sent to each of motorized roller shades 106 rather than sendingmultiple signals to each motorized roller shade 106 including theintensity level associated with the preset.

While memory storage at each of motorized roller shades 106 can bebeneficial, it is not required. It is within the scope of the aspects ofthe embodiments, for example, that the database of information that iscompiled by the GUI software and delivered to motorized roller shades106 by room controller 704 (at step 1106 of FIG. 11) could, instead, bestored in one or more storage devices centrally located with respect toroom automation system 700.

The shade preset actuators of room controller 704 can be used to controlmotorized roller shades 106 using a toggling functionality as follows.It is known for lighting control systems, for example, to use togglingfunctionality to switch a dimmable lighting load between first andsecond intensity levels by actuation of a preset button. A processorassociates the first and second intensity levels for the dimmablelighting loads with first and second states toggled by the presetbutton. Actuation of the preset button toggles the states between thefirst and second states. The processor sets the dimmable lighting loadto one of the first and second intensity levels depending on the stateof the preset button.

In lighting systems the first preset intensity level is typically set bydefault to zero and the second preset intensity level to a desirednon-zero intensity. The states associated with the first and secondpreset intensity levels are, therefore, referred to as the “off” and“on” states. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of method 1300 for toggling theposition of motorized roller shade 106 between two preset positions inresponse to an actuation of a shade preset actuator (at step 1302). Inroom control system 700, room controller 704 can be programmed to togglemotorized roller shade 106 between first and second preset shadepositions (at steps 1306 and 1308, respectively) depending on first andsecond states (determined at decision step 1304) by toggling one of theshade preset actuators of room controller 704. For the first, or “off”state, room controller 704 can be programmed to set the associated shadeposition to a fully-opened shade position by default, or alternativelyto a fully-closed shade position. Room controller 704 can then togglemotorized roller shade 106 between the first shade position (i.e., thedefault “off” shade position) and a second preset position stored inmemory for motorized roller shade 106 in response to actuation of theshade preset actuator. The ability to toggle between two presetpositions can be desirable for a variety of reasons including, forexample, privacy concerns, lighting factors, or facilitating view from awindow.

EDUs 408 for motorized roller shades 106 can typically be adapted todrive associated roller tubes 102 at one set rate of speed. Roomautomation system 700, however, can be adapted to direct motorizedroller shade 106 to move shade fabric 104 in a stepped manner thatsimulates a relatively slowly, but continuously, moving shade 106. Thiscan be accomplished by room controller 704 transmitting, in periodicfashion, a sequence of intensity levels that increase or decrease insubstantially equal steps with each intensity level that is transmitted.That is, a second intensity level is greater (or smaller) by apredetermined amount in intensity than the first, and the third isgreater (or smaller) than the second by the same predetermined amount,and so on. If the duration of each step, as well as the duration ofintervening period between steps, is sufficiently short, the resultingmovement of the shade will appear to be continuous but slower than thatprovided by a shade being normally driven by an EDU 408 between twoshade positions. Including PC 414 running GUI software greatlysimplifies programming of room controller 704 to direct stepped movementof motorized roller shades 106.

Instead of simulating a reduced motor speed using stepped movement atnormal speed, the motor speed for motorized roller shade 106 can bereduced by variation in the voltage applied to motor 502 of motorizedroller shade 106. In response to a motor speed command from roomcontroller 704, a microprocessor in EDU 408 for motorized roller shade106 could apply appropriate voltage associated with the motor speedcommand by varying the duty cycle of a pulse width modulated drivesignal applied to motor 502. Control of motor speed for a motorizedwindow roller shade in this manner is described in greater detail inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,100,659 and 6,497,267. Motor speed for motorized rollershades 106 can also be controlled based on other characteristics such asfrequency of a driving signal, for example.

Room automation system 700, according to an embodiment, can beprogrammed to address motorized roller shades 106 such that a uniqueidentifier is associated by room automation system 700 with eachmotorized roller shade 106. PC 414, as described above, has a GUIinterface can be used to facilitate addressing of motorized rollershades 106 to room automation system 700 in accordance with method 1400.FIG. 14 is a flowchart of method 1400 for visually identifying aparticular motorized roller shade 106 by the “wiggle” method. Accordingto method 1400, a user can enter a shade system addressing mode (at step1402) in the GUI software by actuation of a keystroke at PC 414 orthrough a GUI selection prompted by room controller 704. Room controller704 then directs one of motorized roller shades 106 to raise and lowerits shade fabric 104 over a short distance (i.e., to “wiggle” shadefabric 104 at step 1404). The wiggling of shade fabric 104 provides avisual means of identifying a particular motorized roller shade 106within room automation system 700.

In method step 1406, method 1400 generates and displays a user promptingscreen, with a specific message. The message is shown in FIG. 14 atdecision step 1408: “Is Desired Shade Wriggling?” If “No” is selected bythe user at decision step 1408 (“No” path from decision step 1408), roomcontroller 704 directs another motorized roller shade 106 to “wiggle”its respective shade fabric 104 (at step 1410) and again prompts theuser to select “Yes” or “No” (at step decision step 1408). Thisprocedure is repeated until the shade fabric 104 of the desiredmotorized roller shade 106 is wiggled room controller 704 (via operationof method 1400) and “Yes” is selected by the user at decision step 1408.

According to a further aspect of the embodiments, another method existsfor visually identifying a particular motorized roller shade 106 in ashade addressing programming mode, wherein a subset of motorized rollershades 106 initially includes all of the motorized roller shades 106.According to an embodiment, room controller 704 can direct one half ofthe motorized shades 16 of the current subset to move to a fully-openedposition and the other half of the subset to a fully-closed position.The user is then prompted by the GUI software to select “opened” or“closed” to identify the position of the desired motorized roller shade106. The process is then repeated with the selected subset half becominga new subset of motorized roller shades 106 and room controller 704moving half of motorized roller shades 106 of the new subset tofully-opened and half to fully-closed. This procedure is repeated untilthe desired motorized roller shade 106 is the only motorized rollershade 106 in the subset.

The method just described in the previous paragraph, in which half ofthe motorized roller shades 106 of the subset are moved to fully-openedand half are moved to fully-closed provides a binary system of visuallyidentifying a particular motorized roller shade 106. According tofurther embodiments, however, a binary system is not required. Roomautomation system 700 can be adapted, for example, to direct to move 1/Nof the motorized roller shades 106 of the current subset to one of Nshade positions. For example, motorized roller shades 106 in a currentsubset of shades 106 can be divided into quarters that are respectivelymoved to fully-opened, fully-closed, one-quarter raised andthree-quarter raised positions. Those of skill in the art can appreciatethat other sizes of “divisions” or “groupings” of motorized rollershades 106 are within the scope of the embodiments, and the aboveexamples are just that and not to be taken in a limiting manner.

The following is a list of the acronyms used in the specification inalphabetical order.

-   -   3G Third Generation    -   4G Fourth Generation    -   EDU Electronic Drive Unit    -   GUI Graphical User Interface    -   HVAC Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning    -   ID Identification Number    -   IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers    -   IU Interface Unit    -   LAN Local Area Network    -   LCD Liquid Crystal Display    -   LAN Local Area Network    -   LED Light Emitting Diode    -   LTE Long Term Evolution    -   PC Personal Computer    -   PoE Power-over-Ethernet    -   USB Universal Serial Bus    -   VAC Volts, Alternating Current    -   VDC Volts, Direct Current    -   WAN Wide Area Network

The disclosed embodiments provide a system, software, and a method forcontrolling motorized roller shades, lighting, and providingpower-over-Ethernet to the motorized roller shades. It should beunderstood that this description is not intended to limit theembodiments. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which are included in thespirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims.Further, in the detailed description of the embodiments, numerousspecific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understandingof the claimed embodiments. However, one skilled in the art wouldunderstand that various embodiments may be practiced without suchspecific details.

Although the features and elements of aspects of the embodiments aredescribed being in particular combinations, each feature or element canbe used alone, without the other features and elements of theembodiments, or in various combinations with or without other featuresand elements disclosed herein.

This written description uses examples of the subject matter disclosedto enable any person skilled in the art to practice the same, includingmaking and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporatedmethods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by theclaims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled inthe art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of theclaims.

The above-described embodiments are intended to be illustrative in allrespects, rather than restrictive, of the embodiments. Thus theembodiments are capable of many variations in detailed implementationthat can be derived from the description contained herein by a personskilled in the art. No element, act, or instruction used in thedescription of the present application should be construed as criticalor essential to the embodiments unless explicitly described as such.Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or moreitems.

All United States patents and applications, foreign patents, andpublications discussed above are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling lights and shades, themethod comprising: transmitting controls signals from a room controllerto one or more devices, wherein said control signals represent a desiredintensity level setting; receiving the transmitted control signals atthe one or more devices; transferring power to a first set of said oneor more devices from a transformer via a power cable; and convertingsaid control signals to effectuate said desired intensity level setting,and wherein said one or more devices includes motorized roller shadesand dimmable lighting devices, wherein each of said one or moremotorized roller shades includes a respective electronic data unit foreach of said at least one motorized roller shades, and wherein each ofsaid electronic drive units includes an elongated motor, and a battery,and further wherein said battery is configured to provide operatingpower to said elongated motor, and wherein said electronic drive unitfurther comprises a relay switch network configured to cause electricalpower to selectively by-pass said electrical drive unit, and whereinsaid relay switch network is further configured to selectively allow oneor more batteries in one or more different respective motorized rollershades to draw re-charging power from said battery in said motorizedroller shade associated with said electrical drive unit.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the step of converting comprises:converting a first set of said control signals representing an intensitylevel setting of a shade such that the motorized roller shades changes ashade position of said shade to match the desired intensity levelsetting; and converting a second set of said control signalsrepresenting an intensity level setting of a dimmable light such thatsaid dimmable light control signals change a dimming setting of saiddimmable light, wherein the step of converting said first set of controlsignals includes transmitting a sequence of control signals to themotorized roller shades such that said motorized shade moves said shadein a series of substantially evenly timed steps of substantially equaldistance to simulate a relatively slowly moving shade compared to anormal rate of driven movement for the motorized roller shade, andfurther wherein a motor speed for the at least one motorized shade isvariable; and wherein the method further comprises: transmitting asignal concurrently with the intensity level directing the at least onemotorized shade to move to the associated shade position at a desiredspeed.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step oftransmitting comprises: transmitting said control signals from said roomcontroller to a mesh network gateway, wherein said control signalsfurther include database information; and forwarding said controlssignals wirelessly from said mesh network gateway to each of said one ormore motorized roller shades.
 4. The method according to claim 3,wherein said step of transferring power comprises: transmitting atrickle-charge re-charging current from said transformer to a first oneof said motorized roller shades over said power cable, and wherein apower-over-Ethernet (PoE) cable is connected between each electronicdata unit of each at least one or more motorized roller shades in adaisy chain fashion.
 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein saidelectronic drive unit further includes control electronics, and whereinsaid control electronics includes an input interface, and an outputinterface, and wherein said input interface is configured to receivecontrol signals, database information, and trickle-charge re-chargingcurrent from a preceding electronic drive unit, if so connected, viasaid PoE cable, and wherein said output interface is configured totransmit control signals, database information, and trickle-chargere-charging current to a subsequent electronic drive unit via said PoEcable.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said motorized rollershade further comprises: a shade; and a hem bar located at a bottom ofsaid shade, wherein said hem bar includes one or more small batterieselectrically connected to each other and said battery of said motorizedroller shade, and wherein said small batteries are configured to providea trickle-charge re-charging current to said battery of said motorizedroller shade.
 7. A method for controlling lights and shades, the methodcomprising: transmitting controls signals from a room controller to oneor more devices, wherein said control signals represent a desiredintensity level setting; receiving the transmitted control signals atthe one or more devices; transferring power to a first set of said oneor more devices from a transformer via a power cable; and convertingsaid control signals to effectuate said desired intensity level setting,and wherein said one or more devices includes motorized roller shadesand dimmable lighting devices, wherein each of said one or moremotorized roller shades includes a respective electronic data unit foreach of said at least one motorized roller shades, and wherein each ofsaid electronic drive units includes an elongated motor, and a battery,and further wherein said battery is configured to provide operatingpower to said elongated motor, and wherein said motorized roller shadefurther comprises: a shade; and a hem bar located at a bottom of saidshade, wherein said hem bar includes one or more small batterieselectrically connected to each other and said battery of said motorizedroller shade, and wherein said small batteries are configured to providea trickle-charge re-charging current to said battery of said motorizedroller shade.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step ofconverting comprises: converting a first set of said control signalsrepresenting an intensity level setting of a shade such that themotorized roller shades changes a shade position of said shade to matchthe desired intensity level setting; and converting a second set of saidcontrol signals representing an intensity level setting of a dimmablelight such that said dimmable light control signals change a dimmingsetting of said dimmable light, wherein the step of converting saidfirst set of control signals includes transmitting a sequence of controlsignals to the motorized roller shades such that said motorized shademoves said shade in a series of substantially evenly timed steps ofsubstantially equal distance to simulate a relatively slowly movingshade compared to a normal rate of driven movement for the motorizedroller shade, and further wherein a motor speed for the at least onemotorized shade is variable; and wherein the method further comprises:transmitting a signal concurrently with the intensity level directingthe at least one motorized shade to move to the associated shadeposition at a desired speed.
 9. The method according to claim 7, whereinthe step of transmitting comprises: transmitting said control signalsfrom said room controller to a mesh network gateway, wherein saidcontrol signals further include database information; and forwardingsaid controls signals wirelessly from said mesh network gateway to eachof said one or more motorized roller shades.
 10. The method according toclaim 9, wherein said step of transferring power comprises: transmittinga trickle-charge re-charging current from said transformer to a firstone of said motorized roller shades over said power cable, and wherein apower-over-Ethernet (PoE) cable is connected between each electronicdata unit of each at least one or more motorized roller shades in adaisy chain fashion.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein saidelectronic drive unit further includes control electronics, and whereinsaid control electronics includes an input interface, and an outputinterface, and wherein said input interface is configured to receivecontrol signals, database information, and trickle-charge re-chargingcurrent from a preceding electronic drive unit, if so connected, viasaid PoE cable, and wherein said output interface is configured totransmit control signals, database information, and trickle-chargere-charging current to a subsequent electronic drive unit via said PoEcable.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said electronicdrive unit further comprises: a relay switch network configured to causeelectrical power to selectively by-pass said electrical drive unit, andwherein said relay switch network is further configured to selectivelyallow one or more batteries in one or more different respectivemotorized roller shades to draw re-charging power from said battery insaid motorized roller shade associated with said electrical drive unit.